Opera Colorado Announces 2012 Season "A Voyage of Discovery"

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General Director Greg Carpenter announced plans for Opera Colorado's 2012 Season. Building on recent artistic successes, the new season reflects Opera Colorado's continued dedication to presenting traditional favorites of the operatic repertoire as well as a commitment to exploring new artistic territory.

"In recent seasons, our audience has expressed an interest in seeing less familiar and rarely performed works," Carpenter said. "We've seen great success presenting rarely performed works such as Bizet's The Pearl Fishers and Dvořák's Rusalka. In both cases, Opera Colorado presented the Rocky Mountain regional premieres of these masterpieces and audiences embraced them enthusiastically." In addition to a regional premiere of a contemporary work and a traditional Mozart favorite, the 2012 Season will feature a Verdi opera not seen on the company's stage for 27 years.

The company will also continue its tradition of introducing exciting new artists to the Denver community. The 2012 Season will include sixteen company debuts by extraordinary singers, conductors, directors, designers and a contemporary composer. This will also be Opera Colorado's 29th season collaborating with The Colorado Symphony.

Opera Colorado's 2012 Season will include a shift in the company's season calendar. The opera traditionally performed in November will move to March 2012. "By making this change in our performance calendar, Opera Colorado achieves both short-term savings and long-term advantages," Carpenter said. "First, we are excited to have a more compact season that will give our public more of a sense that the opera is truly in season. With our season spread out with a couple of months between performances, we lose the momentum a more compact season provides," Carpenter explained. The change in calendar will compact the season to a February, March and April/May time frame, providing the company with economies of scale not previously available under the old schedule. Carpenter continued, "During the country's recent economic downturn, it has also been important for Opera Colorado to economize in any way we can without compromising the quality of our artistic product. By moving our November opera to the March timeslot, we achieve savings that ensure Opera Colorado's long-term viability."

"The new approach to repertoire and changes in our calendar are a result of an intensive long-range planning process that has involved our Board leadership and extensive feedback from our audience," Carpenter said. "I believe these changes are vital for the fiscal and artistic health of our company."

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